PADI for Scuba
Diving
|
Padi,
padi scuba, diving gear, learn to scuba, skin
diving, dive packages, dive courses, diving
|
|
|
Get scuba diving qualified while holidaying in Thailand
So, you've
finally booked that exotic holiday to Thailand and now
you're thinking about doing something really different? Why
not get your PADI Open Water certification? It takes just a
few days and will open up a whole new underwater world to
you.
You'll find PADI is the most widely available
certification with just a handful of shops offering NAUI
and SSI certifications. There are dive shops all over
Thailand, in places like Phuket, Khao Lak, Chumpon, Hua Hin,
Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangnan, Koh Chang, Koh Samet,
Pattaya, Phi Phi, Krabi and more.
Some dive shops are tied to resorts while many are
their own businesses. You can do your PADI Open Water
paperwork in your home country before you arrive and do your
checkout dives in Thailand,
|
or do
the whole course in Thailand. You also have the
choice of doing your checkout dives by daytrip or
from a liveaboard vessel.
Where you go to take your course depends on what
your preferences are. Each location has its own
attractions and if you plan to spend more time above
the water than below it, you might want to choose
your destination for its other offerings. Likewise,
not all dive shops or instructors are of the same
quality.
You'll want to visit several dive shops where
you are staying and meet the instructor that you
would have if you did your Open Water course there.
If English is not your native language, you may find
a dive shop with an instructor speaking Dutch,
French, Italian, etc. Dive shops in the more popular
diving areas provide instruction and exams in
several languages.
Equipment standards vary between shops as well.
You'll want to make sure that the equipment is not
too old and that it has been well maintained and
stored, as well as cleaned properly. For instance,
regulators go in your mouth and they should be well
cleaned between users. Additionally, most people
urinate in their wetsuits and these should be
cleaned after each dive. All equipment must be
cleaned of salt water or the crystallization can
damage it.
Poorly maintained regulator, BCDs and dive
computers can malfunction and cause a serious
accident that may even lead to your death. Likewise,
a poorly trained dive instructor or one who does not
take his or her job seriously can get you killed
too.
One of the most popular places to take PADI
courses in Thailand is
Koh Tao, known
for its cheap diving and abundance of dive shops,
and within easy reach of Samui. You'll have plenty
of choices here and would be wise to take your time
and visit as many shops as possible. Koh Tao is a
good place to learn how to dive and to proceed
through Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster/Master
Scuba Diver, and Instructor courses.
However, this island is not recommended for fun,
recreational dives as the visibility and quality of
the reefs is relatively poor. Koh Tao is most
popular with young backpackers, although there are a
few resorts for those who do not enjoy this scene.
Phi Phi offers a similar scene on a smaller scale
with better diving.
For quality diving, it's best to go to
Phuket or
Khao Lak, where
you have easy access to the Similan Islands. These
nine islands are part of Phang Nga province and
located within a marine national park. They are
pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the
water. The beaches here are some of the most
beautiful in the world and the dive spots are some
of the best in the world. Colourful reefs and
boulder formations are a plus, with a variety of
coral and marine life. Visibility is also good,
varying from 30 to 50m.
The best way to see the
Similans is by
liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow
you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if
you've completed the paper and pool work ashore
beforehand, usually with diving courses on Phuket.
Note that in mind that the Similans are closed
during the low season due to unfavourable boating
and diving conditions. Additionally, sites have
depths well past the recreational limit of 40m and
some may have currents. It's advisable that you take
courses past Open Water to become a stronger diver
and be permitted to dive to the limit.
|
|
There
are diving courses on Samui as well, and plenty
of dive operators offering all levels of diving
courses on Phuket, even a few in Krabi. In fact
you'll find scuba courses in Pattaya, Koh Chang and
other places, but with less choice of date
flexibility.
Author Andy Burrows writes about Thailand and
recommends using the following travel websites:
Phuket for adventurers
Thailand tourist guide |
Scuba
Diving basics - but important |
|
Padi, padi scuba, diving
gear, learn to scuba, skin diving, dive packages, dive
courses, diving boards, deep diving, dive rescue, scuba
training, open water diver, diving course, scuba diving
equipment, padi, diving school, scuba instruction, diving
certification, diving vacations, padi scuba diving, padi
dive, padi dive master, best scuba diving, dive trips,
scuba, scuba diving, live aboard, diver training, scuba
lessons, padi certification, wreck diving, pro dive, naui,
padi open water, technical diving, scuba diving training,
diving courses, padi diving, dive master, commercial diving,
padi courses, pearl diving, learn to dive, scuba diving
certification, learn to scuba dive, padi, scuba diving
lesson, dive certification, advanced open water, dive
certification
|
